Packaging device



May 30, 1967 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 K. A. WEINBERG PACKAGING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. KURT A. WEINBERG ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,322,383 PAQKAGENG DEVICE Kurt A. Weinberg, 2530 27th Ave, SanFrancisco, Calif. 94131 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,932 12 Claims.(Cl. 2443-174) This invention relates to a packaging device and morespecifically to an enclosure which provides a convenient means forwrapping or storing relatively heavy objects such as beverage bottles orthe like, prior to transportation or use.

A frequent problem in the purchase, transportation, and storage ofproducts marketed in various shape bottles and other types of similarcontainers is that such items cannot be wrapped or otherwiseconveniently prepared inexpensively for storing or transportating priorto consumer usage. I am familiar, of course, with various prior artexpedients such as hard boxes, Christmas wrap containers, and the likethat may be used for such purpose; but these are generally relativelycostly and normally unavailable all year around in a convenient form.Even if made available, and the additional expense of providingcardboard or other suitable enclosures were to be tolerated, the storageof such normally bulky devices would render them inconvenient to theordinary sales counter such as in grocery stores, liquor stores, and thelike.

In the absence of a suitable enclosure about which additional wrappingpaper may be applied relatively quickly and easily, various types ofbeverage containers find their way int-o bags and boxes for cartage withlittle if any protection against breakage and without enhancement ofappearance. In respect to gift wrapping, such containers may be packagedin relatively expensive boxes or merely wrapped with tissue and ribbonin a manner which is generally not entirely satisfactory.

Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a con tainerenclosure, for various sizes and shapes of containers, having a pair ofvertical spaced apart sides with a platform panel extending between thelower edges of the vertical sides upon which a bottle or other type ofcontainer may be placed. The platform is flanked by a pair of U-shapedpanels whose lower edges are secured to the bottom edge of the oppositefacing vertical panels and whose legs are secured together at their tipsto form a barrier to prevent slippage of the container from theenclosure platform upon which it rests.

A further and more specific object is to provide a container enclosureof the type described above having a pair of tabs extending downwardlyfrom the platform panel to support the panel further in the event thatthe container to be enclosed is relatively heavy.

A feature and an advantage of this invention is that the containerenclosure affords a certain degree of protection for the container andits contents during transportation and storage, prior to usage.

Another feature and advantage is that the container enclosure itselfprovides relatively flat uniform surfaces to which a wrapper may beapplied relatively easily thus enhancing the appearance of the packageas a whole for purposes such as gifts and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for making acontainer enclosure from a flat sheet product merely by scoring asection of the product to form fold lines and cutting out a particularconfiguration from the center panel to form an opening therein and a tabextending from one end of the opening. The tab is further defined by afold line along one end adjacent to one of the panel crease lines sothat, as the entire fiat section is folded in a predetermined manneralong the score lines including a mid-crease line to form the sides ofthe con- 3,322,383- Patented May 3%, i967 ice tainer enclosure, the tabis foldable into position to form the platform upon which the containermay be supported. A feature and an advantage of this method for producmga foldable container enclosure is that it may be practrced with aminimum of equipment and incurs steps which only require cutting,discarding of a cut-out section, and simple scoring of folda'olematerial.

Another feature and advantage of this invention is that the productwhich forms the container enclosure may be stored in flat sheets andquickly folded into its operating shape immediately prior to usage. Inthis manner the storage of boxes and other inconvenient shapes known inthe prior art is avoided with attendant advantages for storage andconvenience for those using the item, particularly in retail stores andthe like.

Other numerous objects, features, and advantages will become apparentupon a reading of the specification which follows and by referring tothe accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference referto corresponding parts in the several views.

Turning now to the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the foldable sheet material of my inventionshowing the various score lines and cutout of the center section;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of my invention with a beverage containerindicated therein by interrupted lines;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 with a top flap of the enclosurein its closed position;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an alternative embodiment of my invention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a second alternative embodiof my invention.

The invention here is best understood by referring first to FIG. 1 whichshows a length of flat sheet material generally indicated at A as itwould appear prepared in accordance with my invention prior to foldingand usage as exemplified in FIGS. 2 and 3. The foldable material may beof any suitable paper, plastic, plastic impregnated fiber or the likewhich may be cut and scored to form a foldable sheet. The basicrequirement for stock selection is that the type of material andthickness selected forms a stiff enough enclosure to support thecontainer on platform 37, seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, with optionalstiffener tabs 38 and 39. Such material selection may be determined bycut and try in a manner that will be apparent from a reading of theremainder of this specification. The sheet shown as A has a lengthdimension 1 and Width dimension w, forming end edges 27 and 28, whichmay be varied to suit particular ranges of sizes of containers or thelike which are to be enclosed by my novel packaging device.

After initial forming of the sheet indicated at A to dimensions l and w,score lines 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 13, 19 and 35 are impressed upon thesheet by the use of known techniques and equipment not shown nor furtherdescribed herein. Interval 21 between score lines 12 and 13, definingside panel 25 of the completed enclosure, and interval 22 between scorelines 17 and 18, defining side panel 20, are selected to be slightlygreater than main body dimension 23 of a typical container to bepackaged, as is best seen in FIG. 2. Dimensions 21 and 22 are alsoformed to be just enough greater than dimension 23 of the containerindicated at B so as to provide clearance between platform 37 and thebottom of the enclosure in its normal standing position as shown in FIG.2 in order to accommodate vertical tabs 38 and 39 which are formed froma portion of center section 34 described hereinafter. Dimensions 24 and26 indicating the interval between edge 27 of the foldable sheet andscore line 12, and score lines 18 and 13, respectively, are selected tobe sufiicient to form slant sides 29 and 31 which shield the upperportion 3 of the container indicated at B as seen in FIG. 2. Anadditional portion 32 between edge 28 and score line 19 and having alength 33 is provided to form a flap which may be secured over the topof the enclosure in its operable configuration as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Central panel 34, best seen in FIG. 1, has a central portion that is cutout and discarded, the cutout being defined by line 36. After cuttingand discarding the central portion of panel 34, there remains acontinuous peripheral portion including the outer edges of panel 34which form a pair of oppositely-facing U-shaped members or panels, crossmember 301) with legs 34a and 34b extending from opposite ends thereofforming one U-shaped member at one end of panel 34 and member 30a withlegs 34c and 34d extending from opposite ends forming a U- shaped memberat the other end of panel 34. In addition, there is formed platform tab37 projecting inwardly of the cut from the peripheral portion at one endof panel 34. The inner edge, defined by score line 16, of cross member30a of one of the aforementioned U-shaped panels also forms one end ofplatform tab 37; and, interior U-shaped cut line 40 is formed with thelong edge of that cut piercing the center portion of score line 16.Short score line 15 connects the blind ends of the short portions of cut40 so that, after folding along line 15, vertical tab 39 is formed andplaced in operating position. A similar tab 38 is formed at the otherend of the opening in panel 34 by means of score line 14 and short cuts36b and 360 at right angles to edge 3611, which is also the inner edgeof cross member 30b of the other of the aforementioned U-shaped panels.An additional score line 35 is impressed laterally along the center ofthe sheet in respect to edge 27 and score line 19 to make center panel34 bendable along its transverse centerline marked (I; on the drawing.

Cut line 36 shown in FIG. 1 not only forms the more or less oval-sidedirregular open space in the center of panel 34 but also forms platformtab 37 mentioned above. In addition, platform tab 37 is provided with apair of ears 37a and 37b which protrude outwardly and in a transversedirection from the main portion of the plat form panel tab at the freeend thereof. The width of the cutout portion of section 34 between theoval-shaped longitudinal sides is selected large enough so that when tab37 is folded down onto edge 36a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ears 37a and3712 do not interfere with legs 34a through 34d, inclusive.

All of the aforementioned cuts and score lines may be made in stocksheets of suitable material either in one continuous stamping andcutting operation, or in a sequence of such operations, whichever may bethe most suitable and economical in a particular operation. Suchselection and sequence of operations is a matter of known designprinciples and is not further discussed herein.

A plurality of sheets such as that indicated at A in FIG. 1, with thescore lines and cutouts of my invention as described above, may bestored or stacked in a fiat convenient manner preparatory to actual use.When a container, such as a glass beverage bottle indicated at B in FIG.2, is desired to be packaged, stored, or transported prior to use, asingle sheet or a fiat piece of such stock may be removed from its placeof storage and in a few moments be prepared for use as shown in FIGS. 2and 3. To prepare the sheet for use, the user merely first folds theentire panel along score line 35, bringing one-half of panel 34 adjacentto its other half with section 25 adjacent to section 20 and section 29adjacent to section 31. Such a fold is made in respect to the sheetshown at A in FIG. 1 so as to move the apex formed by fold line 35upward away from the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1. The next step is tofold the sheet upwardly along score lines 17 and 13 bringing sections20, 29, and 32 upward and adjacent to sections 25 and 31; thereafter,folds are made along score lines 18 and 12 in a manner which urgespanels 29 and 31 toward each other, while a fold is made along scoreline 19 to prepare flap 32 for later use. At this point the userdepresses vertical tabs 38 and 39 in a manner so as to fold the tabsaway from panel 34 along score lines 14 and 15, respectively. At thesame time platform tab 37, which is still in alignment with one half ofsection 34, is bent in a downward direction along score line 16 whileboth vertical sections and 21B are separated from each other to permitthe platform tab to come to rest on edge 36a of the cutout portion ofsection 34; tab ears 37a and 37b form a lock to hold platform 37 inplace by bearing inwardly against legs 34a and 34b of the U-shapedpanels formed by those portions of section 34- which remain as part ofmy device.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, sides 20 and 25 are separated asplatform 37 is placed in position with the inner transverse edges ofears 37a and 37b up against the fiat surfaces of legs 34a and 34b. As aresult of the gentle deformation that occurs to legs 34a through 34d,when sides 20 and 25 are positioned with platform 37 resting on edge 36alegs 34a through (1 form arcuate barriers flanking each side of platform37; and vertical tabs 38 and 39 form reinforcements to assist instiffening platform 37 and arcuate legs 34a through d to resist crushingwhen a beverage or other type container is placed within the enclosureand rests upon platform 37. If desirable, adhesive or other sutableadherent means may be applied to the inner surfaces of legs 34a through34d along adjacent contacting portions directly beneath score line asseen in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the enclosure is in condition for use and may beopened at the top by swinging tab 32 in the direction of are 41 andspreading open upper portions 29 and 31. The beverage container may thenbe placed down into the enclosure resting on platform panel 37, sides 29and 31 placed back in their closed position, and flap 332 closed downover side 31. Flap 32 is closed in the direction including the positionindicated by phantom lines 32a until completely overlapping side 31 asshown in the perspective view of FIG. 3. Flap 32 may be provided with apressure sensitive adhesive or other suitable means for adhering againstside 31, or may simply depend upon its folded stiffness to maintainclosure. In addition the entire parcel may be wrapped with an outerpaper cover, not shown, to enhance the appearance of the entire parcelas for example when gift wrapping or the like. It is to be noted thatthe profile engendered by the use of my novel enclosure presents a moreeasily wrapped object than that of the bottle alone; and to some extentpresents a more pleasing and fanciful appearance to the package as awhole than would be the case if the object being packaged were merelywrapped in paper only.

The particular shape of the enclosure as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may bevaried so as to present a blunt-ended top to the enclosure rather thanthe peak which is illustrated in the drawing for purposes of exampleonly. However, the slant-sided configuration shown helps stabilize thecontainer being packaged.

When the package is completed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except for anouter wrapping which may then be applied and is optional, the beveragecontainer or bottle is completely supported within the enclosure and isless apt to be dropped or broken. Various thicknesses of materials maybe selected, depending upon the weight of the object to be wrapped andthe nature of the use of the enclosure, i.e. whether for storage,transportation before use, or a combination thereof. It is also evidentthat depending upon the weight of the container being enclosed, verticaltabs 38 and 39 may be omitted altogether, although I have found ituseful to include these in almost every instance. T

It is understood that arcuate side portions 34a through d, which formU-shaped panels having the tips of their extending members securedtogether, may follow a less arcuate path or be planar in naturealtogether. In any event, such side portions form an integral portion ofthe bottom region of the enclosure of my invention which adds stiffeningsupports to the lower edges of sides and 25. In addition, besidesforming a bearing for ears 37a and 37b which assists to secure panel 37,arcuate side portions 34a through 3412 form side barriers to prevent thepackaged container from slipping out of the enclosure.

A number of variations are possible utilizing my invention, two of whichare shown in the drawings at FIGS. 4A and 4B, and FIGS. 5A and 5B,respectively.

Turning first to FIGS. 4A and 43, I show a fragment of a flat sheet atA2 similar to that indicated at A in FIG. 1 except for the centralportion indicated generally at 134 between score lines 113 and 117.Score line 113 and another adjacent to it to the left, but not includedin the section fragment shown in FIG. 4A, are separated by the intervalof dimension 131 and define side panel 125, which are substantially thesame as dimension 21 and side panel 25,respectively, shown in FIG. 2 andexplained earlier; score line 117 and another adjacent to it to theright, again not shown in the fragmentary view of FIG. 4A, definedimension 122 and side panel 120 which are similar, respectively, todimension 22 and panel 20 expalined in respect to FIG. 2.

Cut lines 136 of the alternative structure shown in FIG. 4A comprisestwo longitudinal c-ut lines parallel to the length of sheet A2 and twocut lines at right angles thereto, one being on each side of thetransverse centerline Q. Cut lines 136, and the major portion of scoreline 114, form tab panel 1370, while the cut lines symmetrically locatedon the other side of transverse centerline (I; with score line 116 formplatform tab 13%. A portion of panel 134 at its center is thus cut awayby cut lines 136 and discarded prior to further use of the finish-ed cutand scored section indicated at A2, Additional- 1y, score line 135 isimposed along transverse centerline (I; to guide the folding of thesection into an operable enclosure in a manner described below.

After scoring and cutting, center section 134 forms a continuousperipheral section which, in addition to platform tabs 137a and 137b,includes a pair of oppositelyfacing U-shaped panels, one of which ismade up of a cross member between score lines 113 and 114 havingextension legs 134w and 1340; while the other U-shaped panel comprises across member section between score lines 116 and 117 having extensionlegs 13011 and 130d.

When the embodiment of my invention exemplified in FIG. 4A is placedinto use to enclose a container as indicated at B1 in FIG. 4B, the firststep is to bend the section along score line 135 to form a fold in anupward direction away from the plane of the figure as shown in FIG. 4A,whereby the two halves of panel 134 are brought into adjacent contactwith each other. Next, side panels 125 and 120 are formed by bending theouter portions of the section in an upward direction along score lines113 and 117; thereafter, tabs 137a and 13711 are folded downwardly alongscore lines 14 and 116 to form the platform panel indicated in FIG. 4B.Contact adhesive or other suitable adhering means are provided asindicated at 140a on tab portion 137a, and at 14Gb on tab portion 137b,so that the two tab portions may be joined together to form a continuousplatform panel.

Legs 134a through 13411, inclusive, remain oriented in a generallyupward direction to form a bridge between the vertical side panels asseen in the side elevation in FIG. 4B, similar to the arcuate legs 34athrough 34d explained earlier in respect to FIG. 2. Legs 134a through134s are shown in a straight or planar configuration although it wouldbe possible to form such legs to define an arcuate profile. Legs 134athrough 134d, in final operating position, form a side barrier toprevent slippage of a bottle or other similar container housed by mynovel package enclosure from slipping off the platform formed by tabhalves 137w and 13%. In addition, if desirable, it is possible toprovide pressure-sensitive adhesive or other suitable adhering meansbetween the face of the cross member of the U-shaped panel between scorelines 113 and 114 and the bottom portion of the surface of panel withwhich the cross member is in contact; and similar adhesive may beapplied between the surfaces of the cross member of the U-shaped panelbetween score lines 116 and 117 and the bottom portion of side panel 129with which the latter cross member is in contact. The aforementionedoptional adhesive applications may be desirable in those instances whereadditional stiffening is desired in the lower portion of the containerenclosure. In all other respects the container enclosure of theaforementioned alternative embodiment is similar to the first embodimentof my invention described herein; and dis cussion of the application andusage of the final product stated earlier is applicable generally hereinand is not repeated.

Another alternative of my basic invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5A and5B. In that instance the central portion of a sheet similar to thatshown at A in FIG. 1 is indicated at A3 in FIG. 5A including score lines213, 214, 235 (along transverse centerline (E of the sheet), 216 and217. Oppositely facing U-shape-d panels are formed in the panelindicated at 234, one having cross member 230 with extending legs 234aand 2340, and the other having cross member 240 with extending legs 234h and 234d. In this embodiment of my invention out line 236 describes apair of oppositely-facing, symmetrical rectangular cutouts,symmetrically spaced on either side of centerline, which are discardedleaving a continuous peripheral portion defined by cross members 230 and240 and legs 234a through 234d, respectively. When a flat sheet as shown,at A3 is prepared for use, the initial bend along score line 235 ismade to position both sides of the panel indicated at 234 upwardly awayfrom the lane of FIG. 5A in the drawing, so that the apex formed alongscore line 235 becomes the lowermost point of the structure. Folds arethen made along score lines 213 and 214 on the one side of centerline(lg, and between score lines 216 and 217 on the other side of thecenterline, so side panels 225 and 220 may be positioned upwardlyadjacent to cross members 230 and 240, respectively. If desirable,adhesive may be applied between the surface of cross member 230 incontact with the lower portion of side panel 225 and cross member 240 incontact with the lower portion of side panel 2211. Referring to FIG. 5B,edges 236a and 23Gb of the adjacent cutout portions of the center paneldefine at least a portion of a bottle supporting surface and lie in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of the surface upon which theentire container inclosure may be placed to rest. When in finaloperating position, inverted V-shaped trough 238 may be shaped to anapex which coincides with score line 235' and may also rest upon thesurface upon which the entire container is placed. V-shaped trough 238forms a continuous web or member located entirely within the continuousperipheral portion of the panel at 234 and eX- tends transversely acrossthe bottom of the container enclosure to form a relatively stiff andsecure resting place for the bottom surface of a bottle such as thatindicated at B2. The remainder of the container enclosure of FIGS. 5Aand 5B is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment of myinvention explained above, and the comments made in respect thereto arenot repeated here although they are understood to be equally applicable.

Innumerable variations of my novel enclosure may be made by varyingcertain of the physical sizes, thicknesses, and other parameters of mydevice while still remaining within the spirit of the invention andscope of appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and secondparallel, spaced apart, vertical sides having the lower edges thereof inalignment with each other; a first U-shaped panel having a pair of legsconnected to a cross member with the lower edge of said cross membersecured to the bottom edge of said first side, said legs of said panelinclined upwardly toward said second side; a second U-shaped panelhaving a pair of legs connected to a cross member with the lower edge ofsaid last cross member secured to the bottom edge of said second side,said legs of said second panel inclined upwardly toward said first side;means securing the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to thetips of the oppositelyfacing legs of said second U-shaped panel; aplatform section having one end secured to the upper edge of the crossmember of said first U-shaped panel and the other end edge free andspaced apart from the secured end edge a distance at least slightlygreater than the interval between the upper edges of said cross members,a pair of opposite side edges of said platform adjacent to said endedges and spaced .apart near said free end a distance no greater thanthe least interval between the legs of said second U-shaped panel; andat least a portion of the platform near the free end thereof in contactwith and overhanging the upper edge of the cross member of said secondU-shaped panel, said platform adapted to support thereon a containerplaced within said enclosure and between said opposite sides.

2. A container enclosure comprising: a pair of parallel, spaced apart,vertical side panels facing each other with the bottom edges thereof inalignment with each other; a pair of U-shaped panels each defining apair of stems connected to a bottom cross portion with straight,parallel, horizontal upper and lower edges, the lower edge of one ofsaid bottom portions secured to the bottom edge of one of said sidepanels and the lower edge of the bottom cross portion of the otherU-shaped panel secured to the bottom edge of the other side panel, thestems of said U- shaped panels inclined slightly arcuately, inwardly andupwardly between said side panels with the ends of the stems of oneU-shaped panel adhered to the ends of the oppositely-facing stems of theother U-shaped panel; and a platform panel extending between the upperedges of said bottom portions of the U-shaped panels, said plat formpanel having one end secured to the upper edge of one of said bottomportions and a segment of the lower surface near the other end incontact with and supported by the upper edge of the other bottomportion; and a pair of tabs extending transversely outwardly from saidother end of the platform panel to contact each of the stems of saidU-shaped panel in contact with said other end of the platform, saidplatform adapted to support thereon a container placed within saidenclosure between said side panels and the stems of said U-shapedpanels.

3. The container enclosure in accordance with claim 2 and whereinfurther the bottom edges of said side panels are co-planar and thecenterlines of the side panels normal to the bottom edges define a planenormal to the side panels.

4. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and secondparallel, spaced apart, vertical sides having the lower edges thereof inalignment with each other; a first U-shaped panel having a pair of legsconnected to a bottom portion with the lower edge of said bottom portionsecured to the bottom edge of said first side, said legs of saidU-shaped panel inclined upwardly toward said second side; a secondU-shaped panel having a pair of legs connected to a bottom portion withthe lower edge of said last bottom portion secured to the bottom edge ofsaid second side, said legs of said second U-shaped panel inclinedupwardly toward said first side; means securing the tips of the legs ofsaid first U-shaped panel to the tips of the oppositely-facing legs ofsaid second U-shaped panel; a platform section having first and secondend edges opposite each other and a pair of opposite sides spaced apartnear said second end edge a distance no greater than the least intervalbetween the legs of said second U-shaped panel, and said end edges beingspaced apart a distance at least slightly greater than the intervalbetween the upper edges of said bottom portions of the oppositely-facingU-shaped panels; a pair oftabs each secured at each end edge of saidplatform section and extending downwardly therefrom in a directionnormal to the plane of the platform for a distance equal to the intervalbetween said plane and the plane defined by the lower edges of saidvertical sides; and means securing the first end edge of said platformto the upper edge of the bottom portion of said first U-shaped panelwith at least a portion of the platform near the other end edge being incontact with and overhanging the upper edge of the bottom portion ofsaid second U-shaped panel, said platform adapted to support thereon acontainer placed within said enclosure and between said opposite sides.

5. A method for making a fiat sheet product, formable to provide acontainer enclosure, comprising the steps of: providing a section offoldable flat stock material having a predetermined length and width;scoring said section transversely in respect to the longitudinalcenterline of the section, said scoring forming panel creases to dividesaid section into three panels in end-to-end relationship to each otherand a mid-crease coincident to the transverse centerline of the middlepanel of said three panels; and cutting and removing a portion of saidmiddle panel to form an opening therein and a tab extending from one endof said opening inwardly toward the other end there of, the one end ofsaid opening being defined by a fold line along the first end of saidtab parallel to and near one of said creases defining said middle panel,and said other end of the opening being defined by an edge parallel toand near the other of the creases defining the middle panel, said tabhaving one free end parallel to said other end of the opening, said freeend having a width dimension at least no greater than the length of saidother end; whereby said section is foldable along said panel creases toform the sides of the container enclosure and along said mid-crease toform upwardly extending outside portions of said middle panel onopposite sides of the enclosure, the folding along said mid-crease alsomoving said tab into position for foldable movement about said first endinto contact with the edge of said other end of the opening, said tabforming a platform to support a container thereon between said sidepanels and the outside portions of said middle panel.

6. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and secondparallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels having the lower edgesthereof in alignment with each other; first and second U-shaped panel-sfacing each other and each having a pair of legs connected to a crossmemher with the cross member of said first U-shaped panel secured to thebottom of said first side panel, the cross member of said secondU-shaped panel secured to the bottom of said second side panel, and thelegs of each of said U-shaped panels inclined toward each other; meanssecuring the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to the tipsof the legs of said second U-shaped panel, support means located betweenthe legs of said first and second U-shaped panels to form at least aportion of a surface between said legs, said surface lying in a planeparallel to the lower edges of said vertical side panels; and meanssecured to the upper edge of said first and second side panels to forman arched closure therebetween adapted to cover a container placedbetween the side panels and supported on said support means.

7. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and secondparallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels having the lower edgesthereof in alignment with each other; first and second U-shaped panelsfacing each other, each of said U-shaped panels having a pair of legsconnected to a cross member with the cross member of said first U-shapedpanel secured to the lower inside surface of said first side panel, andthe cross member of said second U-shaped panel secured to the lowerinside surface of said second side panel, the legs of each of saidU-shaped panels inclined inwardly and upwardly toward the oppositefacing U-shaped panel; means securing the tips of the legs of said firstU-shaped panel to the tips of the legs of said second U-shaped panel;and a platform section having one end secured to the upper edge of thecross member of said first U-shaped panel and the other end secured tothe upper edge of the cross member of said second U-shaped panel, saidplatform adapted to support a container placed in said containerenclosure between said side panels.

8. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and secondparallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels having the lower edgesthereof in alignment with each other; first and second U-shaped panelseach having a pair of legs connected to a cross member, the cross memberof said first U-shaped panel secured to the inside lower surface of saidfirst side panel, and the cross member of said second U-shaped panelsecured to the inside lower surface of said second side panel, the legsof each of said U-shaped panels inclined inwardly and downwardly awayfrom said side panels and said cross members toward the opposite facing'U-shaped panel; means securing the tips of the legs of said firstU-shaped panel to the tips of the legs of said second U-shaped panel,said means including a V-shaped trough having the apex thereof lying inthe plane defined by the lower edges of said first and second sidepanels, and the transverse edges of said trough between said legs lyingin a plane above said vertex normal to said side panels, said transverseedges adapted to support a container placed within said enclosurebetween the side panels thereof.

9. A fiat sheet product formable to provide a container enclosure,comprising in combination: a section of foldable material having apredetermined length and width; a plurality of score lines formed insaid section transverse to the longitudinal centerline of the section,said score lines including lines defining at least three panels inendto-end relationship to each other and one score line coincident withthe transverse centerline of the center one of said three panels; acontinuous peripheral portion defined by a cutout portion formed in saidcenter panel having at least one inner edge adjacent and parallel to oneof said score lines defining the center panel, and first and secondinner longitudinal edges located on each side of the longitudinalcenterline of said section of material, said first and second edgesbeing adjacent to the outer longitudinal edges of said center panel; amember located entirely within said peripheral portion including atleast a portion of said member having a dimension parallel to said oneinner edge of the peripheral portion at least not greater than theinterval between said first and second longitudinal edges; whereby saidsection is foldable along said score lines to form the sides of saidcontainer enclosure, and along said score line coincident with thetransverse centerline of said panel to form upwardly extending outsideportions of the center panel on opposite sides of the enclosure, and thefolding along the transverse centerline also placing said member intoposition for foldable movement about the score line at one end of saidperipheral portion causing said member to form at least a part of asurface to support a container thereon between said side panels and theoutside portions of said center panel.

10. The fiat sheet product in accordance with claim 9 and whereinfurther said member comprises a tab having one end formed to a free edgeparallel to said one edge of said peripheral portion and the other endsecured to said center panel along a line coincident with another ofsaid score lines, and said portion of said member having a dimensionparallel to said one edge of the peripheral portion being the width ofsaid tab near said free edge.

11. The flat sheet product in accordance with claim 9 and whereinfurther said member comprises two parts, the first of said parts havingone end formed to a free edge parallel to said one inner edge of saidperipheral portion and the other end secured to said center panel alonga first line coincident with another of said score lines, and the secondof said parts having one end formed to a free edge parallel to said oneinner edge of said peripheral portion and the other end secured to saidcenter panel along a second line coincident with another of said scorelines, said first and second lines being at opposite ends of saidperipheral portion, and said free edges being parallel and adapted forsecurement to each other when said fiat sheet product is formed toprovide a container enclosure.

12. The flat sheet product in accordance with claim 9 and whereinfurther said member comprises a tab having opposite parallel sidesforming edges exposed to the opening of said peripheral portion, eachsaid exposed edge being equidistant from and parallel to said transversecenterline of said section, and the ends of said tab adjacent to saidopposite parallel sides secured to said center panel along linesequidistant from the longitudinal centerline of said section andparallel thereto, each of said last lines being in alignment with saidfirst and second longitudinal edges of the peripheral portion.

6. A CONTAINER ENCLOSURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: FIRST AND SECONDPARALLEL, SPACED APART, VERTICAL SIDE PANELS HAVING THE LOWER EDGESTHEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER; FIRST AND SECOND U-SHAPED PANELSFACING EACH OTHER AND EACH HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS CONNECTED TO A CROSSMEMBER WITH THE CROSS MEMBER OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED PANEL SECURED TO THEBOTTOM OF SAID FIRST SIDE PANEL, THE CROSS MEMBER OF SAID SECONDU-SHAPED PANEL SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID SECOND SIDE PANEL, AND THELEGS OF EACH OF SAID U-SHAPED PANELS INCLINED TOWARD EACH OTHER; MEANSSECURING THE TIPS OF THE LEGS OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED PANEL